How Things Are Going

Hi there, friends!

My weekend was absolutely wonderful. It was full of hope and love and connection and joy. I don’t say that to make anyone feel less-than if theirs was absent any of those experiences, but I think we need to celebrate the positive things we find in our lives. I’m doing okay, and I’m also not doing okay, but which of those is accurate really depends upon when you ask. Either way, I’ll commit to continuing to be honest about it. Tonight? I’m doing okay. And my weekend was incredible.

I have to thank my friends Mike and Carmen for both stepping up in order to allow me to make this weekend happen. I initially planned to buy tickets a few months ago when they went on sale, and had fully intended to go by myself. But when Mike told me he was happy to try to get the two of us tickets and that he’d love to go with me, I was very excited to have backup. And when he was placed in the queue thousands and thousands of spots ahead of me and was able to buy us our tickets when I got shut out, I was overjoyed. The last piece I needed to put into place was who could stay at our house and watch the dogs for me, and Carmen immediately volunteered to babysit my two dogs as well as bringing their two dogs (for a total of four dogs on her own).

Mike was also glad to drive us there and back (being a passenger is a very novel experience for me), and he even found us our hotel room! In addition, all four dogs were very well-behaved and got along very well for Carmen. They were lovely angels, which only makes sense because all of them are wonderful babies. And she’s the best caregiver I could have ever asked for.

The Power to the People Festival itself was an unbelievable experience. There are all kinds of think pieces out there about how incredible the event ended up being, but here are just a few highlights. (With the caveat that there’s no way I can possibly list all the incredible things that happened on Saturday.)

• Seventeen of the musicians who performed at the festival have been individually inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

• The youngest musician who played was 15, and the oldest was 85.

• Jack Black played a set of Black Sabbath covers with a backing band of teens (which also included Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath for a song).

• Joan Baez was brilliant (of course).

• I was shocked at how much I enjoyed Cypress Hill and Public Enemy.

• I was not at all shocked at how much I enjoyed Tom Morello and Bruce Springsteen.

• I haven’t been to a Dave Matthews show in about twenty years (though several times before that) and I really appreciated the chance to see him again.

• Foo Fighters were, of course, fantastic. So were Dropkick Murphys.

• Although I’ve heard his name for quite a while, I’d never heard Nathaniel Rateliff’s music, and he was incredible.

• Grandson was very angry and also pretty great.

• The collaborations between artists were unbelievable.

• The goal of the day was to mobilize the people, and it sure did. The focus was peace, love, justice, and music—all those boxes were checked for me.

If you caught any of the livestream on YouTube, that’s great! If you missed the show (it only broadcast once) then let me know, as I may have an idea for how you could find it online.

I was struck again, many many times, by the power of music and time and place and experience. I’m so happy that I was there. I missed Kellie so, so, so much. I had a very strong urge to text her after so many things happened this weekend, and then remembered again each time that she’s gone.

I also miss her now, back in my house and my regular life. I miss her pretty much all the time. It doesn’t take away the missing, or the grief, or the horror. But intentionally seeking sources of love and joy seems to make at least some of the shock of the worst times feel slightly cushioned by this blessed pile of softness and comfort and light.

Coco and Ivy are overjoyed that I’ve returned. And I am too. I slept incredibly soundly last night. My bed is my favorite place to sleep, and with the girls in the peace and quiet is my very favorite way to be.

Enjoy some of my photos from the weekend. It was a special time, and I’ll always treasure these memories.

Also, vote. We need to change some stuff in this country pretty significantly, and that’s an actual tangible way to make some changes happen.

Love you.

Matt